Apparatus for treating liquids



Oct. 412, 1937. L. J. DAvlDsoN 2,095,355

v APPARATUS FOR TREATING- LIQUIDS Filed Jan. 2, 19:55

IVENTOR. F A M25/wf] DA M350/v.

ATT RNEY.

' Patented oct. 12, 1937 UNITED sTATEs PATENT orricE APPARATUS FORTREATING LIQUIDS Lawrence J. Davidson, Chicago, Ill. I ApplicationJanuary 2, 1935, Serial No. 187

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for treating liquidsof any consistency by the application of pressure.

An object of the invention is to provide an 5 emulsifying device inwhich there are no moving parts, such as swirlers, discs, valves,springs, baiiles, agitators,` pistons or the like, to thereby greatlysimplify the construction, increase the durability and decrease the costof the apparatus.

310 A further object of the invention is to provide an emulsifyingdevice which, due to its simplicityV of construction,` can be used fortreating liquids of a highly adhesive nature which cannot be treatedVeiectively by apparatus of this type now generally ink use.

A further object of the invention is to provide an emulsifying device inwhich all parts are readily accessible: for cleaning or sterilizing,thereby ensuring a sanitary apparatus. `A further object of theinventionis to provide an apparatus in which complete emulsication orhomogenization can be effected by' applied pressures far` below thosegenerally required in such apparatus. l To attain theseobjects, andother objects which will be apparent from the following description, I.provide a device `having inlet means for admittingr the liquid tobetreated, a compression chamber communicating with said inlet means, and;a'plurality of outlet passages leading from said compression chamber to'the exterior of said device, said outlet passages being of such sizeand'shape that the liquid is retained under pressure Within thecompression chamber until the desired" treatment has` been eiected.

ln order tov facilitate cleaning, the device may be provided with aremovable plug at either end or at both ends of the compression chamber.Where it is necessary or desirable to eliminate splashing or toconcentrate the ilow of kthe material or liquid discharged from theoutlet passages, a plate or plates, or other suitable de- Ilectingmeans, may be attached to the exterior of said device in such a manneras to forma 45 space or channel between said deflecting means and thesurface orsurfaces of said device, in whichsaid outlet passages arelocated.

The device is preferably made from a solid piece of stainless steel, butmay be made from any non-corrosive material which will not react with orcontaminate the liquid which is to 4be treated and which is capable ofwithstanding the pressure which willbe created in said device; Thedevice may be of any suitable size or shape. The compression chamber ispreferably formed (C1. ssi-265) by drilling a hole straight through thesolid pieceof material and inserting a removable plug at either end orat both ends of the hole. Where it is desired to use one end of thecompression chamber as the inlet means, one end only is closed by aremovable plug. Preferably, l10W ever, the inlet is located at rightangles to the compression chamber and at a point approximately .midwaybetween the ends of said compression chamber, so that the pressurewithin said chamber will be evenly distributed. This inlet means isformed by drilling a hole from the eX- terior to said chamber.

The plurality of outlet passages are also p-reff erably disposed'atright angles to said compressionfchamber, and are formed by drillingholes `from the exterior tothe compression chamber.

Therelation` between the size of the outlet i passages and thesize ofthecentral chamber should be such that the sum-of the diameters of vallvthe outlet passages at their point of exit from the compression chamberis less than the diameter of the compression chamber. For most liquids,the sum of the diameters of the outlet passages at their point of exitfrom the compressionY chamber should be from 35% to '70% less than thediameter of said compression chamb er. For non-adhesive liquids having alow fat content, such as milk or tomato juice, the sum ofthe diametersof the outlet vpassages at their point of exit from the compressionchamber may be as high as 80% of the diameter of the compressionchamber.

For efficient emulsication of dairy products at moderate pressures, ithas been found desirable to give each outlet passage a diameter ofappro'Ximately .0145 inch at its point of exit from the compressionchamber. The size of the outlet passage will, of course, vary accordingtotthe liquid which is to be treated, the treatment which is desired andtheamount oi pressure which is to be applied. y The outlet passagesshould be so spaced from each other that the intervening walls will beof sucient strength to withstand the pressure, and said outlet passagesshould. be so distributed throughout the length of said` compressionchamber' that no large area ofthe compression chamber will be Without anoutlet passage. By so distributing the outlet passages, the formation ofdead 'spaces in the compression chamber is prevented Y By my invention Ialso provide anew combination or assembly. This combination consists`essentially of my new device above de- Cil scribed and means for drawingthe starting liquid from a source of supply and forcing it into andthrough said device.Y This means is preferably a rotary pump of thesanitary twin-impeller type now commonly used for handling dairyproducts, but may be any pump which is capable of constantly deliveringthe liquid to and mairb taining the required pressure in said device.

The pump is preferably provided with an external by-pass and pressuregauge, so that the pressure which is applied to the liquid may beaccurately measured and controlled.

My new device may be connected directly to the discharge side of therotary pump, or there may be intervening connections.

With the combination of the pump and my new device it is possible toreconstitute milk and cream at a pressure of approximately pounds persquare inch, whereas, so far as I am aware, the lowest pressureheretofore used for this purpose in power-driven emulsifiers isapproximately 225 pounds per square inch.

Furthermore, with this new combination, it is possible to producesweetened condensed milk having an 80% solids content at a pressure ofapproximately pounds per square inch, Whereas known power-drivenapparatus for this purpose require a pressure of approximately 1000pounds per square inch.

Also, my new combination is capable of ho-A mogenizing chocolate syrupwith an applied pressure of approximately 350 pounds per square inch, ascompared with approximately 650 pounds per square inch in knownapparatus.

The fact that my new combination can'successfully operate at these newlower pressures means a tremendous saving, both in the cost of theapparatus itself and in the cost of operation, because the cost ofmotors and the cost of power to actuate the motors constitute a veryVsubstantial part of the total cost in connection with such apparatus.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawing, in which- Figure 1 is a view in elevation showing a preferredform of my new device, the internal construction being shown in dottedlines;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view in elevation of a modie form of my device, with apart broken away to show the internal construction;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 4; Y

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a sectional View showing a modied form of my new device; and

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view showing my new device in combinationwith a rotary pump.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, and. 3, the device I has a compressionchamber 2 and a plurality of outlet passages 3 leading downward from thecompression chamber to the bottom surface of said device. yEach outletpassage 3 is connected to the compression chamber 2 by means of asmaller passage 3a. Each outlet passage 3 is inwardly tapered at theplace where it connects with the smaller passage 3a, as shown at 4. Theends of the compression chamber are closed by means of removable plugs6. An inlet passage 5 to the compression chamber. 2 is provided atright.

angles to and at a point approximately midway between the ends of saidcompression chamber.

Figures 4, 5, and 6 show a modified form of mY new device. In thisembodiment, the device I is of rectangular shape, and the inlet passage5 is disposed at one end of the compression chamber 2, the other end ofsaid chamber being closed by a removable plug 6. The outlet passages 3issue at right angles from both sides of the compression chamber 2.Plates 'I are fastened to each side of the device by means of bolts 8.Each plate 'l has a recess 0 in its inner surface so as to form achannel I!) with the side of the device. This modification isadvantageous where it is desirable to rprevent splashing and toconcentrate the ow of the liquid discharged from said outlets 3. lFigure 7 shows another form of my new device. In this embodiment, thedevice I is substantially square in shape, and has a compression chamber2 which may be formed by casting. The device is provided withinwardly-extending flanges Ib adapted to screw on to a screwthreadedplug II fastened to the end of the supply pipe 5. The outlet passages 3issue from the bottom of the compression chamber 2. This embodiment ischeaper to make than the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 6, inclusive,and may be advantageous where a small device is desired.

Figure 8 shows my new device in combination with a rotary pump. Thestructure and operation of this combination are as follows:

The materials or liquids to be treated are placed in a tank A where theyare mixed and preheated if necessary. Through a pipe 20 the material. orliquid is drawn from the tank A by means of a rotary pump B of thetwin-propeller type, actuated by any suitable power such as an electricmotor. The rotary pump B forces the liquid into a pipe 5, in which thepressure is measured and controlled by means of by.pass 2I leading backinto pipe 20. This by-pass 2l is provided with a valve 22 and a pressuregauge C. The material or liquid is forced through the pipe 5 into thecompression chamber of the emulsifying device I. Due to the constantpressure produced by said rotary pump and the retardation in flow causedby the size and shape of the outlet passages, the liquid is retainedunder pressure within said compression chamber until the desiredemulsication has been effected. The emulsiiied material ows out throughthe outlet passages of the device I into a reservoir D, from which itpasses over cooling coils E and into a storage tank F. All connectionsin this assembly should be of the sanitary type now used in dairyequipment.

Some examples of the. applications of the invention are:

Producing milk, cream, whippingcream and condensed milk from unsaltedvsweet-cream butter, powdered milk and water;

Producing sweetened condensed milk from unsalted sweet-cream butter,powdered milk, sugar and water; e

Producing ice-cream mixY from unsalted sweetcream butter, powdered milk,water, sugar, gela tine and egg; Y

Treating of vegetable and fruit juices to place their particles insuspension;

Producing milk or cream from plastic cream and skim milk;

Treating of fruit and vegetable extracts to make them more suitable foruse in soft drinks;

Cil

Homogenizing cosmetics before they are solidified; y

Homogenizing salad dressings. Y,

Having thus described' my invention, what I claim is: Y

1. A device adapted for emulsifying liquids under pressure, said devicehaving inlet means for admitting the liquid to be emulsied, acompressionlchamber in which the' liquid is emulsied, a removable plugat each end of said chamber, a p-lurality of small outlet passagesleadingfrom said chamber to the exterior of said device, and a plateattached to the exterior of said device in such a manner as toconcentrate the oW of and prevent splashing of the emulsifled liquidwhich is discharge-d from said outlet passages.A

2. A device adapted for emulsifying liquids under pressure, said devicehaving inlet means for admitting the liquid to be emulsifled, acompression chamber in which the liquid is emulsii'led, a removable plugat each end of said chamber, a plurality of small outlet passagesleading from said chamber to the exterior of said device, and a plateattached to the exterior of said device, said plate having a recessedinner surface so as to form With the exterior of said device a channelVfor concentrating the ow of the emulsii'ied liquid which is dischargedfrom said outlet passages.

3. A device adapted for emulsifying liquids under pressure, saiddeviceconsisting of a single block havinga single-Walled compressioncham- V ber extending longitudinally through said block,

an inlet passage communicating at right angles with said chamber at apoint approximately mid-v Way between the ends of said chamber, aremovable plug closing each end of said chamber, and a plurality ofsmall outlet passages leading at right angles from said chamber totheexterior of said block, each of said outlet passages consisting ofV aninner portion of very small diameter proximate the chamber and an outerportion of larger diameter proximate the exterior of said'block, saidouter portion being tapered at the place Where it connects with saidinner portion, the sum of the diameters of said outlet passages at theirpoint of exit from sai-d chamber being less than the diameter of saidchamber, whereby the liquid is retained Within said chamber until it is

